MZed
MZed is an online subscription education platform serving filmmakers and photographers with 925+ lessons across 70+ courses, operated by The Dorsia Group LLC (CineD) from Burbank, California.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1960
- HeadquartersBurbank, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What MZed does
MZed is an online subscription education platform serving filmmakers and photographers, operated by The Dorsia Group LLC (which also operates the cinematography publication CineD). The core product, MZed Pro, is a recurring membership granting unlimited streaming access to a catalog of 925+ lessons across 70+ courses and over 385 hours of content covering cinematography, editing, color grading, audio, lighting, directing, screenwriting, and producing. Distribution is delivered through a direct-to-consumer website and a dedicated iOS app that supports offline viewing; courses can also be purchased individually for $19-$999 as a one-time/perpetual license.
Content is supplied by industry practitioners including Hollywood DPs (e.g., Philip Bloom, Vincent Laforet, Alex Buono), a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer (Vincent Laforet), and institution-backed instructors from ARRI Academy, AbelCine, and Blackmagic Design (offering official DaVinci Resolve certification-eligible courses). The company is headquartered in Burbank, California, reports 1-10 employees, and claims 50 years of operation with 100,000+ members guided worldwide.
The business model is product-led and self-serve, with primary revenue from MZed Pro subscriptions priced at $349 in year one and $199 on renewal (or $49 monthly), supplemented by individual course sales, a 20% education/student discount, gift memberships, and institutional/group licensing. Customer acquisition relies on website content marketing, an email newsletter, social login, and member testimonials; retention is reinforced by a member-discount ecosystem spanning more than 14 partner brands (Vimeo, FilmConvert, Musicbed, Waves, pCloud, AbelCine, Hurlbut Academy, and others). No revenue, funding, or ownership structure beyond the Dorsia Group LLC operating entity is disclosed in the source material.
MZed firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MZed
- Legal name
- The Dorsia Group LLC
- Website
- https://mzed.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1960
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- MZed is an online subscription education platform serving filmmakers and photographers with 925+ lessons across 70+ courses, operated by The Dorsia Group LLC (CineD) from Burbank, California.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MZed industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Film and Photography Education
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Course Bundle Subscriptions & Learning Membership Marketplaces (EDAFAIAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Learning Content Bundling & Subscription Passes (All-Access Libraries) (MPACALAL), Corporate/L&D Course Licensing from Creators (B2B Upskilling) (MPACALAH), Content Conversion, Digitization & LMS/SCORM/xAPI Packaging (EDAGAKAL)
Keywords
Where MZed is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burbank
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
MZed business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- MZed Pro Annual Subscription: Annual subscription providing unlimited streaming access to the entire course library including all new content. First year at $349, renewing at $199/year.
- MZed Pro Monthly Subscription: Monthly subscription option at $49/month for unlimited access to course library
- Individual Course Purchase: Courses can be purchased individually for lifetime ownership, with prices ranging from $19 to $999 depending on course length and content
- Education and Institution Licensing: Special education and institution pricing for larger group licenses, with 20% student/education discount available
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | MZed Pro Monthly Subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | MZed Pro Annual Subscription |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Course Purchase |
| Subscription | Annual | Student/Education Discount |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
MZed product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MZed is a subscription-based online education platform for filmmakers and photographers, offering the MZed Pro membership that provides unlimited streaming access to 925+ lessons across 70+ courses covering cinematography, directing, editing, color grading, audio, lighting, screenwriting, and producing. Courses can also be purchased individually for lifetime ownership (priced $19 to $999), and the platform is complemented by an iOS app that enables offline viewing of downloaded lessons.
Product overview
MZed is an online filmmaking education platform offering a subscription-based membership model (MZed Pro) that provides unlimited streaming access to a library of 70+ courses spanning over 925 lessons and 385+ hours of content. The platform operates as a unified product where MZed Pro serves as the core membership tier, granting access to all courses including those taught by industry professionals. Individual courses can also be purchased outright. The platform includes a dedicated iOS mobile app for offline viewing. Course content covers diverse filmmaking disciplines including cinematography, directing, screenwriting, editing, color grading, audio production, lighting, and producing, with instructors ranging from Hollywood DPs to Pulitzer-Prize winners. The ecosystem includes optional add-ons such as gift memberships and exclusive partner deals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MZed Pro: Annual subscription membership providing unlimited streaming access to the entire MZed filmmaking course library.
Products and services
- MZed Pro Annual subscription membership providing unlimited streaming access to the entire MZed library of 925+ filmmaking lessons across 70+ courses, including all new courses added during the membership period; first year at $349, renewing at $199/year, with offline viewing via iOS app and industry-recognized certificates upon course completion.
- MZed iOS App
- Cinema Sound
- The Indie Film Blueprint
- Vincent Laforet's Directing Motion
- Directing Color
- Writing 101
- How to Start a Podcast
- Advanced Editing with Davinci Resolve
- Canon R5 C Ultimate Video Manual
- Introduction to Lighting
- Before You Roll - Shot Listing Essentials
- The Efficient Filmmaker: Scan and Plan
- Gift Memberships
- Education and Institution Licensing
Quantifiable outcome
- 4.6/5 average course rating from thousands of member reviews
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use MZed
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
MZed technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature1 record
MZed partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AbelCinecoreAbelCine is both an education partner (providing the AbelCine Team courses) and offers member discounts to MZed Pro subscribers. AbelCine is a trusted equipment and education provider in the film industry.
- ARRI AcademycoreARRI Academy provides courses on MZed and offers exclusive member discounts. ARRI is a leading cinema camera manufacturer, lending significant credibility to MZed's technical education content.
- Blackmagic DesigncoreMZed offers official Blackmagic Design certified training courses for DaVinci Resolve. Completing these courses prepares students for Blackmagic's official certification exams.
- VimeominorMZed Pro members receive 20% off paid Vimeo memberships as part of the member discount program.
- FilmConvertminorMZed Pro members receive 30% off FilmConvert software as part of member discounts.
- MusicbedminorMZed Pro members receive 20% off Musicbed subscriptions for licensed music.
- Waves AudiominorMZed Pro members receive 35% off Waves Gold membership as part of member discounts.
- pCloudminorMZed Pro members receive 30GB Lifetime Storage FREE with pCloud as an exclusive deal.
- Hurlbut AcademyminorMZed Pro members receive up to $100 off annual Hurlbut Academy membership.
- Color.iominorMZed Pro members receive the Osiris LUT pack from Color.io ($49 value) completely free as an exclusive deal.
- RØDE MicrophonesminorFeatured in the How to Start a Podcast course with extensive coverage of RØDECaster Pro II and RØDE Connect software.
- CineDcoreMZed is operated by CineD (The Dorsia Group LLC), with 'By CineD' branding prominently displayed. CineD is a cinematography and filmmaking publication.
- MovidiamminorMZed Pro members receive 50% off individual Movidiam membership as part of member discounts.
- BlueCat AudiominorMZed Pro members receive 20% off BlueCat Audio products.
- FilmsupplyminorMZed Pro members receive 20% off Filmsupply memberships.
- New Audio TechnologyminorMZed Pro members receive 40% off New Audio Technology products.
- KitsplitminorMZed Pro members receive 10% off gear rentals through Kitsplit.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
MZed competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CreativeLive: Online learning platform focused on creative skills including photography, video, and filmmaking with both subscription and individual course purchasing. Directly comparable to MZed in subject matter, audience (aspiring and professional creatives) and hybrid monetization.
- Skillshare: Subscription-based creator-led course platform with strong coverage of creative disciplines including video production, photography and editing. Closely mirrors MZed's PLG subscription model and creator-economy audience, though at a lower price point and broader scope.
- MasterClass: Premium subscription platform offering high-production courses from world-class experts. Comparable to MZed in its all-access subscription model, premium pricing and reliance on celebrity/professional instructors, but serves a broader creative and lifestyle audience beyond filmmaking.
Broad incumbents
- Udemy: Global course marketplace with extensive filmmaking, photography and editing content from independent instructors. Comparable as a destination for self-directed creative learners, though its marketplace model and lower price points differentiate it from MZed's curated library.
- LinkedIn Learning: Subscription-based professional learning platform owned by Microsoft with courses spanning business, technology and creative disciplines including video production. Comparable as a broad L&D subscription but lacks MZed's depth in niche filmmaking craft.
- Coursera: Large MOOC platform offering film production, photography and media courses from universities and industry partners. Comparable on subscription/individual course purchase mechanics and educational positioning, though its academic orientation differs from MZed's practitioner-led approach.
Emerging players
- No Film School: Online filmmaking education publication and community offering articles, tutorials and premium courses. Comparable to MZed as a focused filmmaking learning destination, though primarily content/blog-driven with a smaller paid course library.
- Film Riot: Filmmaking education brand offering YouTube tutorials, short films and paid courses. Comparable to MZed on audience (aspiring independent filmmakers) and subject matter, but primarily free and ad-supported rather than subscription-driven.
Regional players
- AbelCine: Film equipment and education provider offering courses, training and member discounts, with content also carried on MZed. Comparable as a creator-economy education and gear partner ecosystem, though primarily equipment-sale driven.
- ARRI Academy: In-house training arm of ARRI offering courses on its cinema camera systems, with content also distributed on MZed. Comparable as a source of premium filmmaking education but specialized to ARRI hardware rather than the broader filmmaking curriculum.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MZed social profiles
Digital presenceMZed compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
MZed financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MZed leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
MZed funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MZed M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MZed
What does MZed do?
MZed is a subscription-based online education platform for filmmakers and photographers, offering the MZed Pro membership that provides unlimited streaming access to 925+ lessons across 70+ courses covering cinematography, directing, editing, color grading, audio, lighting, screenwriting, and producing. Courses can also be purchased individually for lifetime ownership (priced $19 to $999), and the platform is complemented by an iOS app that enables offline viewing of downloaded lessons.
Is MZed a public or private company?
MZed is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was MZed founded?
MZed was founded in 1960. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is MZed based?
MZed is headquartered in Burbank, United States, in the North America region.
How does MZed make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. MZed Pro Annual Subscription is the primary driver. The others are MZed Pro Monthly Subscription, individual Course Purchase and education and Institution Licensing.
Who are MZed's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CreativeLive, Skillshare and MasterClass. Broad incumbents are Udemy, LinkedIn Learning and Coursera. Emerging players are No Film School and Film Riot. Regional players are AbelCine and ARRI Academy.
Does MZed have an API?
No public API is recorded for MZed.
What industry is MZed in?
MZed's product category is Online Film and Photography Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFAIAI, Course Bundle Subscriptions & Learning Membership Marketplaces, with a secondary code of MPACALAL, Learning Content Bundling & Subscription Passes (All-Access Libraries). Its NAICS code is 516210 and its SIC code is 7822.